At times empires arise among humans. They rise up and take under their control the local leadership of kingdoms and make them subjects of the emperor. When the local leaders refuse to submit, they are replaced by loyal servants of the empire. The laws and cultural influences of the empire are forced onto the nations that make it up. Language […]
There is a proverb: “It is possible to be so heavenly-minded that you are no earthly good.” What is the truth, though? If our minds are set on carnal things, that is death. If our minds are set on spiritual things, that is life and peace (Romans 8:6). It is possible to be so earthly-minded that I am no good […]
On days when you feel unprepared for great things, consider the preparation that Esther had. She was in the right place at the right time. She was beautiful, but that was insufficient by itself. Many other young women were beautiful. She learned to ask for help, and sought the advice of Hegai, the eunuch in charge of the king’s women. […]
The Kingdom of Heaven is an invitation to be strengthened and led, not beaten and pushed. When the other 10 disciples heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John. Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and their men of high positions […]
I have, since being a teenager, had the perhaps arrogant idea that if something is popular there must be something wrong with it. It influenced my choices of music, of religion, clothing, art, and everything else, I suppose. Democracy is touted as the best government ever on the earth. Some have said of it, though, that if good people lead […]
Are we living on what we have stored up, or on what our Father has stored up? Then He told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build […]
The more you value the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, the more power Jesus will display in your life. When He went to his hometown, the doubt there kept Him from exercising much power. When He went to the hometown of Peter and Andrew, He pronounced condemnation over the place because of their doubt. When He was in Bethany, […]
Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to die by the sword? Our wives and little children will become plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” So they said to one another, “Let’s appoint a leader and go back to Egypt.” Then Moses and Aaron fell down with their faces to the ground […]
What are the “greater things” that we could be doing? How do we get there from wherever we are? What is one of the contexts of the promise, “ask what you will”? “I assure you: The one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I […]
Some people were even bringing infants to Him so He might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. Jesus, however, invited them: “Let the little children come to Me, and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little […]